Buckley resident asks council to reconsider 30‑foot beehive setback in city code

During the Buckley City Council meeting, resident Sandra Anderson urged the council to reconsider the city—s beehive setback rules, saying the existing code effectively prevents her from keeping bees on her R-8,000 zoned property.

Anderson said the relevant provision, BMC 9.15 0.04, "basically requires a 30 foot setback," and that she does not have 30 feet on every side of her house. "I have exactly 30 feet from the back to the back of my house, so I'm hoping that the council will address the code," she said, citing her 20 years of beekeeping and neighbors' support.

Anderson told the council she brought examples of other jurisdictions— approaches, including Federal Way, which she said typically requires a 25-foot setback but allows hives as close as 10 feet from a property line if protected by a six-foot cedar fence or hedge so bees "fly up and out." She also referenced state legislation, saying "I have a bill here, it's senate bill 5934, that was passed this last year" and later mentioning "bill 5972" related to neonicotinoid restrictions in Washington state.

The issue was raised during the public-comment portion of the meeting; no ordinance change was proposed on the floor. In council-member remarks later in the meeting, one council member asked staff to study the setback and potential updates. The council member said, "can we study that?" and noted beekeeping has grown in popularity and merits review.

Discussion points included whether the 30-foot measure is intended to apply around an entire property or to specific property lines and whether fence or vegetation-based protections could be used to shorten setbacks. Anderson told the council she already has a six-foot fence and that two of her hives are 12 feet from neighboring property lines; she also provided signed neighbor statements supporting her hives.

No formal motion to amend BMC 9.15 0.04 was introduced and no vote took place. The record shows a council member requested staff study the code and potential alternatives, but the meeting did not set a timeline or direct staff to draft an ordinance.

Why it matters: Beekeeping setbacks affect residents in single-family zones and can determine whether long-time hobbyists or small-scale urban agricultural efforts remain feasible. Anderson framed the request as both a personal appeal and an environmental concern, noting bees are in decline and local beekeepers contribute to pollinator health.

Next steps: The council did not schedule action; a council member asked staff to research the setback and possible approaches used elsewhere. The city will determine whether to place a code amendment, study item, or formal ordinance on a future agenda.